Mechanism for feeding and cutting continuous tobacco sheet material



H. H. WHEELER MECHANISM FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING CONTINUOUS June 3, 19 58 TOBACCO SHEET MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13. 1953 INVENTOR HENRY' H. WHEELER ATTORNEY June 3, 1958 H WHEELER 2,837,158

MECHANISM FOR FEEUING AND CUTTING CONTINUOUS TOBACCO SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 13, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F I G. 5

160 Ma r 155 154 INVENTOR f7? HENRY H. WHEELER ATTORNEY WHEELER H. H. 2,837,158 0R FEEDING AND- CUTTING CONTINUOUS June 3, 1958 MECHANISM F TOBACCO SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 13, 1953 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR H EN RY H. WHEELER BY ATTORNEY United States v Patent MECHANISM roR FEEDING AND CUTTING coN- TINUGUS roBAcco SHEET MATERIAL Henry H. Wheeler, Bellerose, N. Y.,

national Cigar Machinery Company, New Jersey assignor to Intera corporation of This invention relates to cigar machines, more particularly to automatic binder and wrapper material feeds for high speed cigar machines.

In cigar machines heretofore used, a tobacco leaf was spread on a cutting bed provided with a die of the required configuration to cut a wrapper or bunch binder. In such machines, the output depends upon the experience and speed of the attendant in placing the tobacco leaf on the cutting bed.

It is the main object of the present invention to automatically feed the wrapper and/or binder material in the form of a continuous web of tobacco sheet material, for example of the type taught in the patent to Wells et al. 2,433,877 dated January 6, 1948.

his the object of this invention to provide a means for feeding such a sheet across the bunch rolhng table or to the wrapper applying mechanism of a cigar machine.

It is a further object of this invention to sever a predetermined length of said sheet material during the feed thereof.

A further object of this invention is to devise a mechanism that may be readily and automatically timed with the operation of a cigar machine, whereby said material will be fed commensurate with the speed of the cigar machine and will be independent of the ability and skills of an operator. v In-the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a binder material feed for cigar machines designed to feed binder web from a roll directly onto the bunch rolling table;

Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation of the same as seen from line 22 of Fig. 1;

.Fig. 3 is a plan view of the binder material feed and part of a bunch rolling table, taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional side elevation illustrating a portion of the web feeding arm in conjunction with the web cutting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified binder material feed for cigar machines;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same as seen from line 6--6 of Fig. '5;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation taken on line 77 of Fig. 5 illustrating the web-feeding and cutting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation of the same taken on line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation of the web feeding and cutting mechanism, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view, taken on line 1010 of Fig. 9, illustrating the cutting knife release mechanism.

With reference to the binder material feed mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, this device consists of a frame bracket secured to the table 22 of a cigar machine. The upper portion of bracket 20 loosely supports a hollow shaft 24 the ends of which are closed by means of suitable plugs 26 to form a chamber 82. H01- z low shaft 24 is rocked by means of an arm 28 secured thereon. The free end of arm 28 is provided with a slot 38 (Fig. 1) to engage a suitable clamp screw 32 to Which is pivoted the upper end of a connecting rod 34 whose lower end is pivoted to the free end of a cam lever 36 loosely supported on a shaft 38 of the cigar machine (not shown). Cam lever 36 carries a cam roller 40 (Fig. 1) which engages with a cam 42 keyed to the main cam shaft 44 of the cigar machine. Shaft 44 also has another cam 46 engaged by a cam roller 48 on a cam leve 50 loosely supported by a suitablestud 52. v

An arm 54 extends from the hub of lever 50 and is connected at its free end by an adjustable rod 56 to a slide valve 58 protruding into a valve housing 60 which is connected by a tube 62 to a source of suction (not shown). Valve housing 60 is also provided with two ports 64 and 66 and the slide valve 58 is provided with an opening or hole 68. Port 64 through tube 70 is connected to the suction chamber 72 of the rolling table 74. The top surface of table 74 is provided with perforations or holes 76 (Fig. l) which match up with the holes 77in the rolling apron 78. The structure and operation of the rolling table and apron are well known in the art and therefore further description is not deemed necessary. Port 66 of valve housing 60 is connected by a tube 80 to chamber 82 in hollow shaft 24.

When the cam roller 48 on lever 50 contacts the lowest portion 84 of cam 46 the slide valve 58 is moved to a position where its opening 68 coincides with port 66' of housing 60 to apply suction to chamber 82 of hollow shaft 24, the function. of which will be described later on.

When the cam roller 48 of lever 50 contacts the highest portion 86 of cam 46, the opening 68 of slide valve 58 opens port 64 to apply suction to chamber 72 of rolling table 74 and consequently through holes 76 in its top surface and holes 77 in rolling apron 78. Thiscauses a binder laid thereon to adhere.

When the cam roller 48 of lever 50 contacts the intermediate portion 88 of cam 46 opening 68 of the slide valve 58 is positioned between ports 64 and 66 and no within the hub 92 communicates with chamber 82 of the hollow shaft 24 while its bottom end carries and communicates with a hollow suction head 96 provided with a perforated binder pick-up plate 98. Thus,

suction is applied to pick up plate 98 of feed arm when slide valve 58 permits suction to enter the tube 80 via port 66 of suction housing 61).

A pair of integral lugs 180' project from one end of head 96 and carry at their ends a horizontal shaft 102'.

A pair of spaced levers 184 are secured to shaft 102.

, One of these levers has an extension 106 supporting a roller108 engaging with a guide track 110 which by means of a pivot 112 and a thumb screw 114 is adjustably held by and attached to the frame bracket 20.

Hollow shaft 24 also carries a gear 118 provided at its hub 120 witha conventional one-way ball or roller clutch 122 so that as the shaft 24 is oscillated' by means of arm 28, gear 118 is driven intermittently in one direction only. To prevent blacklash during this operation a spring loaded pawl 124 engages the teeth of said gear 118'. Pawl 124 is pivotally supported by a stud'126 held by a suitable lug 128 extending from bracket20. Gear 118 through a pair of intermediate gears 136) drives a gear 132 and its shaft 134 to which 'is secured a drum or roller .136. ,Shaft 134 as well as stud shaft 138 to which intermediate gears are lc i Patented June 3, 1958'" pivoted are supported by a bearing arm 140 which in stud shaft 142 held by a suitable lug 144 projecting from frame bracket 20.

The binder material feed described above and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 operates as follows:

A length of web W is first pulled off the reel R and placed onto an inclined and stationary bridge plate 146 supported by a lug 148 projecting from frame bracket 20. Web W is laid on said bridge plate so that its leading edge is even with the front edge of binder pickup plate 98 of suction head96. Assume that, at this moment, the cam roller 48 of cum lever 58 is in contact with the low portion 84 of cam 42 causing slide valve 58 to stand in a position which permits suction to enter tube 88 and consequently act through perforated binder pickup plate )8 to pick up the leading portion of the binder web W. Upon rotation of cam shaft 44 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the binder material feed arm 90 due to cam 42 and the therewith connected parts moves forward in the direction of the arrow F, pulling web material from reel R. Roller 136 in contact with the periphery of reel R is positively driven during the forward motion of feed arm 98 and therefore assists in the feeding of web W. As arm 98 reaches a vertical position as indicated in dotted lines (Fig. 1) above the forward end of the rolling table, the suction, due to action of slide valve '58 is cut from feed arm 90 and switched to apron 78 on rolling table 74 causing the leading portion of web W to disengage from pickup plate 98 of arm 90 and adhere to rolling apron 78.

Arm 90 then returns to its original starting position where knife 116, operated by arms 104 and guide track 110, engage the ground forward edge 99 of pick up plate 98 to cut off that portion of the web now lying on apron 78. During the backward motion of arm 90, of course, no feeding action took place, since the web was not in contact with the pick up plate 98 and the reel R was not turned by roller 136 due to the disengagement of one-way ball clutch .122 as shaft 24 was rocked clockwise with reference to Fig. 1.

Ann 90 is operated from cam 42 which is in time with the cigar machine so that a bunch charge is placed on the binder as it is delivered to the apron so it may be rolled in the manner well known in the art. The cut piece of binder web is placed on the rolling apron at an angle to achieve a somewhat spiral wrapping during the rolling operation.

A modified embodiment of my binder material feed is shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. It also consists of a frame bracket 150 which is secured to the bed 22.

of a cigar machine and which in its upper portion loosely supports a shaft 154 rocked by means of an arm 156 mounted thereon. Arm 156 is provided with a slot 158 engaged by a clamp stud 160 of the upper end of a connecting rod 162. The lower end of rod 162 is pivoted on a stud 164 to a cam lever 166 rotatably supported on a transverse shaft 168. Cam lever166 carries a cam roller 170 engaging a cam 172 mounted on the main cam shaft (not shown) of the machine. Cam 172 effects a raising and lowering of arm 156 which in turn causes shaft 154 to rock.

The binder material feed arm 174 is secured to rock shaft 154 and consists of an arm member 176 which on its lower free end carries a pair of feed rollers 178 one of which may be of rubber, if desired. Each roller 178 is mounted on a shaft 180 to each of which is also secured a gear 182. Both gears 182 mesh with each other and both shafts 180 are supported in suitable bearings in the fork-shaped free lower end of arm member 176. The upper of the two gears 182 also meshes with another gear 184 connected to a shaft 186 by means of a conventional one-way ball or roller clutch 188. A pawl 198 pivoted to arm member 176 by a stud 192 engages the teeth of gear 184 and in conjunction with ball clutch 188 permits rotation of gear 184 in one direction only. Shaft 186 to which gear 184 is connected is oscillated by means of a gear 194 mounted thereon and engaging an arcuate stationary gear segment 196 loosely supported by the oscillating shaft 154 and secured to the frame bracket 150 by means of a screw 198 (Figs. 5 and 6).

The lower portion of arm member 176 also carries a web cutting mechanism consisting of a vertical rod 280 having a V-shaped cutting blade 282 secured to its lower free end. Blade 282 is also slidably secured to the forked free end of arm member 176 by a pair of studs 284 engaged in the vertical slots 206 of said blade 282. A compression spring 288 surrounding each stud 204 urges cutting blade 202 against a ledger block 210 to assure a clean cut. Ledger block 210 with a guide lug 212 forms a guide channel 214 to support I the leading edge of the binder material web W. Ledger block 218 as well as guide lug 212 are suitably secured to the forked end of arm member 176.

The vertical rod 280 is slidably supported in suitably spaced ribs of arm member 176 and is provided with a collar 216 which is urged against the top surface of the lowest rib 218 by means of a compression spring 220 surrounding rod 200 and confined between said collar 216 and the under surface of a rib 222 located above rib 218. A latch finger 224 is pivotally mounted by a vertical stud 226 to the top surface of rib 218 adjacent collar 126. One end portion of latch finger 224 is urged against the side of collar 216 by a tension spring 228 held on a stud 230 and anchored to the top surface of rib 218. The other end of latch finger 224 contacts the end of an adjustable trip screw 232 (Fig. 10) which urges and keeps the opposite end of said finger 224 away from the collar 216 when the arm member 176 is in its backmost or starting position. The trip screw 232 is held in a stud 234 secured to a lug 236 projecting from the end of stationary gear segment 196. Vertical rod 280 is raised by lifter cam 240 on oscillating shaft 186 engaging lifter block 238 on rod 208. i

The binder material in reel R is wound between a pair of flanges 242 supported by a stud 244 on an arm 246 of frame bracket 150.

The auxiliary driving means shown in Fig. 1 and having the drum or roller 136 may also be used for applying driving power to the roller 242 of Fig. 5.

It is the object of this material feeding device to pull a predetermined length of web from said reel over bunch rolling table 258 and then cut therefrom a binder which then due to suction adheres to the rolling apron 252 on the rolling table 250. The latter is of the same type and design as the one illustrated in Fig. 1, the formation of which is well known and universally used in the art. Said bunch rolling table is provided with a chamber 254 which, by means of a tube 256, is connected with a suitable source of suction (not shown). The top wall 258 of said chamber is provided with suitable holes 260 which match up with suitable holes or perforations 262 in the rolling apron 252 attached to the front end of said rolling table.

The modified binder material feed and web cutting mechanism illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 18 operates as follows:

We assume that a web W is pulled off the reel R the leading, portion is threaded between the rollers to the knife or cutter blade 202 which with the arm 176 in backmost or starting position is in its lowermost position blocking the guide slot or channel 214. As arm member 1'76 due to the act-ion of. cam 172 upon arm 156 moves forward the gear 194 carried by said arm memand br and meshing with stationary gear segment 196 starts to rotate and with it the shaft 186. This rotation of shaft 186 causes a turning of the rod lifter cam 240 mounted thereon to lift through block 238 vertical rod 200 bearing cutter blade 202. As collar 216 rises, the end of latch finger 224 is moved beneath collar 216 by spring 228 since the other end of latch 226 is free of screw 232. The cutter blade is thus held up and slot 214 is open. Although the shaft 186 is turned by gear 194 due to the forward motion of arm member 176, yet gear 184 engaged by pawl 190 does not turn because of oneway ball clutch 138. Accordingly, rollers 1'78 remain stationary with the leading end web W clamped between them, thus pulling a predetermined length of said web above and over apron 252 on rolling table 250.

After reaching its forwardmost position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the arm member starts its return through action of cam 172. During this return, gear 194 and shaft 186 rotate in the opposite direction and one-way ball clutch 188 in gear 184 engages shaft 186, rotating rollers 180. The turning of rollers 180 during the return stroke of arm member 176 does not cause any pulling on the web and the rollers simply run over the pulled out length of web. This permits it to drop on rolling apron 252 to which it adheres by suction. As arm member 176 completes its return stroke, the free end of latch finger 224 is contacted by trip screw 232 releasing collar 216, rod 200 and cutting plate 202. This causes a cutting action against ledger plate 210 severing the length of web pulled out during the forward motion of the arm member 176. The balance of the cut binder is immediately sucked down on rolling apron 252. The

newly cut leading end of the web leading from the reel, of course, is held in the grip of the two rollers 178 so a new length of web may be pulled from the reel in the next cycle movement of arm member 76.

I claim:

1. In a cigar machine, the combination with a bunch rolling table having a suction chamber for holding tobacco material thereon, valve means for applying suction therein, an arm swingably pivoted above said table, a continuous source of tobacco web material, gripping means on the free end of said arm to grip the leading end of said web and draw it over said rolling table, control means to release said gripping means on said arm and to operate said valve, means to apply suction to said table, said arm swinging back over said rolling table to deposit a leading portion of said web thereon, and means on said arm operative upon the return of said arm to sever said leading portion from said Web on said table.

2. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling table, a source of continuous tobacco web material mounted adjacent said table, an arm pivoted so its free end will swing from said source over and across said table, a transverse slot in said free end of said arm through which said sheet may pass, gripping means in said slot to hold said web against movement in said slot, said gripping means gripping said web material and said arm moving across said table to draw a portion of the web across said table, means to release said gripping means, said arm swinging back across said table without gripping said web, and cutting means forward of said gripping means to sever said web whereby the portion of said web drawn across said table may be deposited thereon.

3. In a cigar machine having a station for suctionally supporting a portion of tobacco sheet material to be wound on a smoking article, a source of tobacco sheet web material mounted adjacent said station, means movable to and fro across said station, said means having mounted thereon gripping elements to grip the leading edge of said web of sheet material and draw it across said station, means to release said gripping elements whereby said leading edge is released, and said means carrying said gripping elements may be moved backward, and cutting means mounted adjacent said gripping ele- 6 ments-to sever a portion of said web during the return stroke of said movable means.

4. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling table, a perforated rolling apron on said table, a suction chamber mounted beneath said table, communicating perforations in said table and said chamber communicating with the perforations of said apron, a source of suction, an onand-off valve associated with said source of suction to apply or discharge suction to said suction chamber, a cam shaft in said cigar machine rotating in cyclical operation therewith, a source of sheet tobacco web material mounted adjacent said table, a carriage mounted for movement to and fro across said table from said source of web material, a cam on said cam shaft, means operated by said cam to move said carriage to and fro once in each cycle of said cigar machine, gripping means on said carriage to draw a portion of said web across said rolling table, a valve operating element controlled from said cam shaft to open said valve when said portion of web material is drawn across the rolling table, said carriage then moving back and along said portion of web material, and cutting means mounted on said carriage and operative to sever the portion of web material suctionally held on said table.

5. In a cigar machine having a rolling table, the combination with a source of continuous tobacco web, of gripping means movable from said source across said table to draw a portion of said web across said table, means to release said gripping means so that said gripping means may return toward said source, and cutting means operatively mounted on said gripping means to sever said drawn portion of web from said continuous source.

6. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling table, a roll of tobacco web material mounted adjacent said table, gripping means to grip the leading edge of said web, mechanism to move said gripping means across said table with said web-gripped thereby to draw a portion of said web across said table, said mechanism connected to a driven roller engaging the periphery of said roll of web material, said driven roller having a peripheral speed substantially equal to the speed of said movable gripping means during their movement, whereby said driven roller by engaging the periphery of said roll of web material will feed web material at a speed substantially the same as the speed of said moving grippers.

7. In a cigar machine having a station for receiving -a web portion of tobacco sheet material, a source of tobacco sheet web material, an arm pivotally mounted above said station with its free end swingable therea'cross from said source, gripping means on the free end of said arm to grip the leading edge of said web and draw it across said station, means to release said gripping means whereby said leading edge is released and said support may move, cutting means mounted on said gripping means on said arm operative to sever said web during the return swing of said arm whereby a predetermined portion may be deposited on said station.

8. In a cigar machine having a station thereon to suetionally support a portion of sheeted tobacco material, a source of sheeted tobacco material, a pivoted arm mounted to swing across said station, gripping means on said arm adjacent its free end to draw a portion of sheeted web material across said station, and a knife movably mounted on said arm adjacent said gripping means and movable from a non-cutting position to a cutting position, resilient means to urge said knife to said cutting position, cam means to move said knife against said resilient means to a non-cutting position, a lock to hold said knife out of cutting position, and a trip positioned adjacent the return end of the swing of, said arm to trip said lock to release said knife to cut said web on the return stroke of said arm whereby the resilient means may move said knife in a cutting motion. I

' 9. In a cigar machine having a station adapted to receive a portion of tobacco sheet material, a support mounted to move to and fro across said station, a source of tobacco sheet material adjacent said station and said support, gripper means on said support to grip the leading edge of said material to draw it across said station, means to release said gripper means so that said leading edge is released and said support may be moved backward along said drawn portion of material, and cutting means on said support operative to sever said drawn portion of web during the return trip of said support.

10. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling table having suctional means for supporting a binder sheet thereon, the combination of an arm pivoted at one end and having a free end swingable across said table, a source of tobacco sheet material mounted adjacent said table, a transverse channel on the free swinging end of said arm through which said web may be threaded, suctional gripping means in said transverse slot for gripping said web, a knife mounted at the end of said transverse channel and adjacent said gripping means on the side distant from said source of wrapping material, and control means to apply suction to said suctional means on said arm and then alternatively to cut 013? said source of suction and apply it to said rolling table, and further control means to operate said knife to sever said web. I

11. In a cigar machine having a station for suctionally supporting a portion of tobacco sheet material, a source of suction for said station, a source of continuous tobacco sheet material mounted adjacent said station, an arm pivoted above said table and operative to swing thereacross, a transverse channel on the free end of said arm through which the leading edge of said web may be threaded, suctional gripping means in said channel to grip said web, a knife mounted closely adjacent'said gripping means and on the side thereof distant from said source of sheeted material, and drive control means operative simultaneously to apply suction from said suction source to said gripping means in said free end of said arm and move said arm across said station, said drive control means then being operative to release said suction on said gripping means and apply said suction to said station, said drive control then moving said arm backward across said station and moving said knife to sever said web toward the return stroke of said arm whereby a portion of said web may be drawn across said table and suctionally applied thereto and said arm retracted to expose a predetermined portion of said web and said portion severed.

12. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling table having suctional means for supporting a binder sheet thereon, the combination with a source of suction, of an arm pivotally mounted above said table to swing to and fro across said table, a source of web sheet material mounted adjacent said table and near the end of one swing of said arm, suctional gripper means on the free end of said arm, cutting means mounted on said arm adjacent said suctional gripper means and a valve mounted in operative relation to said suction source and movable to apply suction to the sectional gripper means on said arm when said arm is near said source of web material and to out off said suction when said arm has swung across said table and thereupon apply said suction to said suction table.

13. In a cigar machine having a station adapted to receive a portion of tobacco sheet material, a support mounted to move to and fro across said station, a source of tobacco sheet material adjacent said station and said support, suctionai gripper means on said support to grip the leading edge of said material to draw it across said station, means to release said gripper means so that said leading edge is released and said support may be moved backward along said drawn portion of material, and cutting means on said support operative to sever said drawn portion of Web during the return trip of said support.

14. The combination of web feeding elements as claimed in claim 13 and further characterized by having on, means operated by said cam to move said movable support to and fro in timed relation to said cigar machine,

and a cam-operated valve operated from said cam shaft to apply and cut off suction to said suctional gripper means in timed relation to the to and fro motion of said support.

15. In a cigar machine having a station for supporting a sheet of tobacco material, a suction chamber at said station operative to hold said sheet thereto, a support movable to and fro across said station, suctional gripping means on said support adaptable to grip the leading end of a continuous web of tobacco sheet material, a roll of tobacco sheet material mounted adjacent said station, a driven roller mounted to engage the periphery of said roll of sheet material to rotate said material in a feeding motion, a mechanism operative simultaneously to move said support forwardly across said station and to drive and rotate said driven roller at a substantially equivalent peripheral speed, said mechanism being adapted to return said support and not rotate said driven roller, a rotating cam shaft operating in timed relation to said cigar machine, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower engaging said cam and operating said mechanism, a second cam on said ca m shaft, a two-Way valve operative to alternatively apply suction to said suction station and to said gripping means on said support, a camvfollower engaging said second cam track to operate said two-way valve in timed relation to said cigar machine, and cutting means on said support operative at a predetermined point during the return movement of said support whereby said gripper means on said support may pull a portion of said web forwardly across said station and sever said portion during its return stroke in timed relation to the cigar machine.

16. In a cigar machine having a station to support suctionally thereon a sheet of tobacco material, a support movable to and fro across said station, a source of continuous sheet material adjacent said support, suctionally .operated gripper means on said support for gripping the leading edge of said web to draw it across said table, cutting means on said support adjacent said gripping means on the side thereof distant from said source of web supply, drive means operative to operate said grippers to grip said web and move said support across said table to draw a predetermined amount of web across said support, said drive means being then operative to apply suction to said suctional table and to withdraw suction from said gripping means and move said support back across said station to operate said cutting means to deposit a predetermined portion of said web on said suction station.

17. In a mechanism for feeding a web of continuous tobacco sheet material to a predetermined station, a support movable to and fro across said station, a transverse slot in said support for receiving a portion of the leading end of said web, suctional gripping means in said slot, and cutting means at said slot and beyond said gripping means, and means to operate said gripping means during the forward motion of said support and to operate said cutting means toward the end of the return motion of said support whereby a predetermined amount of web material may be drawn forward and severed and deposited on said station of said machine.

18. In a cigar machine having a rolling table and a rolling apron supported thereon and suctional means for retaining a sheet of web material thereupon, a source of web sheet material mounted adjacent said rolling table, an arm pivotally mounted above said table to swing thereacross, gripping rollers mounted at the free end of said arm to support the leading end of a sheet of web material from said source therebetween, cutting means mounted adjacent said roller and on the side thereof distant from said source of web material, means to swing said arm across said station with the leading edge of said web supported between said rollers, other means to rotate 9 said rollers during the return swing of said arm so as not to disturb the position of the web pulled across said table by said arm, said other means operating said cutting means when said arm has swung back across said table.

19. In a cigar machine having a s-uctional rolling table, means for applying suction at predetermined time intervals to said rolling table, a source of sheeted tobacco web material adjacent said rolling table, a support movable across said rolling table, cooperating feed rollers mounted for rotation on said support, said feed rollers adapted to grip therebetween the leading edge of said web, said support then moving across said table to draw a portion of said web, said feed rollers then rotating and said support moving backward across said web at a rate of speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed of said rollers to deposit a leading portion of said web on said rolling table, and a knife mounted on said support adjacent the delivery end of said feed rollers and operative to sever said web when said support is returned to a predetermined position whereby a predetermined leading portion of web may be severed and deposited on said rolling table,

20. In combination with a cigar machine having a suction station for supporting a sheet of tobacco, an arm pivotally supported at its one end above said station to swing its free end across said station, a stationary gear segment supported along an arc traversed by said arm during its movement, a pair of cooperating rollers pivotally mounted near the free end of said arm, said rollers having engaging gears to drive them, a pair of gears mounted on said arm, the first of said gears being driven by said gear segment during the movement of.

said arm, the second of said gears engaging one of said engaging gears of said rollers, a one-way clutch connecting said first gear to said second gear to drive said second gear in one direction only, a source of tobacco sheet material having its leading edge engaged between said rollers so that the forward movement of said arm across said station will draw a portion of said tobacco sheet material across said station and said rollers will be rotatably driven by said gear segment, said pair of gears, said one-way clutch and said engaging gears during the return stroke of said arm to deposit said leading portion on said table, and web severing means mounted on said arm adjacent said rollers and on the side of said rollers distant from said source of web material, and means to operate said severing means during the return stroke of said arm to deposit a severed portion of said web on said station.

21. In a device such as claimed in claim 20, further characterized by a lever secured to the pivot of said free arm, a cam mounted on the main cam shaft of said cigar machine, and a cam follower'operatively secured to said lever and engaging said cam to move said arm to and fro across said station in timed relation to said cigar machine.

22. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling table, the combination with an arm pivotally mounted at its one end to swing its free end to and fro across said table, of gripping rollers mounted at the free end of said arm, of drive means to rotate said gripping rollers in one direction only during the one swing of said arm, severing means operatively mounted adjacent said gripping rollers to sever a web held therebetween, and control means operated by said cigar machine to move said arm to and fro in timed relation to said cigar machine and to operate said severing means at a predetermined time toward the end of said one stroke whereby a web of sheeted tobacco material may be drawn across said table during the other stroke of said arm and fed thereon by said rotating rollers during the one stroke and then severed for deposition thereon.

23. An apparatus for feeding a predetermined portion from a continuous source of tobacco web material to a station, an arm pivotally mounted to swing from said continuous source of web material to and fro across said station, cooperating gripping rollers on the free swinging end of said arm, engaging gears secured to the ends of said gripping rollers whereby they may be totated, a drive gear engaging one of said engaging gears, a shaft whereon said drive gear is mounted, a one-way clutch to drive said shaft in one direction only a gear to drive said clutch, a stationary gear segment mounted in the arc of said swinging arm engaging said last-named gear to rotate it backwards and forwards during the swing of said arm whereby said gripping rollers are stationary during one swing of said arm and are rotated during the other swing of said arm so that a web of continuous sheeted material held between said rollers is pulled forward during the one swing of said arm and said arm will move backward without disturbing the position of said web due to the rotative motion of said rollers.

24. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling table, a roll of tobacco web material mounted adjacent said table, grippers to grip the leading edge of said web, mechanism to move said grippers forward and return across said table with said web gripped thereby during the forward movement to draw a portion of said web across said table, said mechanism having a driven roller engaging the periphery of said roll of web material, said driven roller having a peripheral speed substantially equal to the speed of said moving grippers during their forward movement so that said driven roller by engaging the periphery of said roll of said web material will feed web material at substantially the same speed as the speed of said moving grippers, said grippers comprising gripping rollers to support therebetween the leading end of a sheet of web material from said source, and other means to rotate said rollers during the return swing of said arm so as not to disturb the position of the web pulled across said table by said grippers during their preceding forward movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Austria Ian. 10, 1913 Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference N 0. 90,005 involving Petent No. 2,837,158, H. H. Wheeler, Mechanism for feeding and cutting continuous tobacco sheet material, final judgment adverse to the patentee was rendered Apr. 13, 1962, as to claims 3, 5, 9, and 19.

[Oficial Gazette May 15, 1.962.] 

